B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said journalists have “the second-most interesting” job next to public life, during a visit to the Graduate School of Journalism.
He was speaking during a talk on October 24 to first-year students taking the core Integrated Journalism course. It was followed by a wide array of questions from the students.
Campbell focused on major issues facing students such as the “new economic world,” which he said requires a “deep journalism” that can “bring a depth of coverage and understanding and build public literacy.”
The premier elaborated on his 10-point economic plan released October 22, defending the measures as part of B.C.‘s leadership role during this economic crisis.
While Campbell noted British Columbia “is going to have very little impact on the global economy,” he said the question remains, “What can we do here?”
Campbell touched on a variety of other topics, including the municipal election and Vancouver’s affordable housing shortage.
Asked what advice he would give to Vancouver’s two main mayoral candidates, Peter Ladner and Gregor Robertson, Campbell said the two men need to demonstrate their long-term vision for Vancouver.
One of the simplest ways to address affordable housing, Campbell said, would be to decrease lot size regulations. He argued this would result in automatic savings and lower housing costs in the city.
During the question period, Campbell also ruled out the possibility of a leadership run for the federal Liberal party, saying B.C. “is where I’m interested.”
(Photos by Aaron Tam)
Watch the Premier’s talk:
TAGS: liberal party, journalism school, gregor robertson, gordon campbell, elections
